How to Plant a Black Diamond Watermelon

One of summer's highlights is fresh watermelon. However, the watermelon found in stores is often not as ripe or sweet as homegrown watermelon. A good melon for a home garden is the Black Diamond Watermelon, an old-fashioned seeded variety that does not require any special care. Its seeds are readily available and, as Fern Marshal Bradley explains in "The Exper'ts Book of Garden Hints," growing plants from seed is "the essence of gardening."

Things You'll Need

Garden spade

Compost

Black Diamond watermelon seeds

Water

Mulch

Plant Black Diamond watermelon seeds after all chance of frost has passed. Watermelon seeds sprout best when the temperature is consistently above 70 degrees F.

Designate a large area in your garden for watermelon cultivation. Each vine will be approximately 6 feet long. Plants should be spaced 3 feet apart.